ELECTRICAL HEATING DEVICE

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for transforming electric current into heat and for diffusing said heat, consisting of one or more continuous strips (13) of highly conductive material, of constant width, whose thickness is measurable in microns, with a high ratio between width and thickness, arranged in the form of a serpentine (14) on a flat, rigid panel (11) made of aluminium with an anodized layer (12).

Description: Electrical heating device. Innumerable means exist for generating heat by electric current . These means are based on the use of highly resistant materials which reach high temperatures when electric current is passed through them thereby creating a great concentra ion of heat. The temperatures so reached are nearly always much grea¬ ter than those actually needed at the point of use. Costly and complex heat diffusers are therefore required involving very considerable differences of temperature. The high temperatures in the conducting parts necessitate means of support made of special materials, such as ce¬ ramic and the like, as well as complex but fragile insu- lating and covering structures. Such high temperatures rapidly wear out the apparatus while the level of efficiency compared with a direct use of fuel is very low. When allowance is also made for the considerable expense of highly resistant materials it follows that high costs are incurred in purchasing and operating a heating system- Purpose of the present invention is to transform electric energy into heat by means of simple and practical struc¬ tures and also to reduce manufacturing and running costs as will be explained below. Subject of the invention is an apparatus consisting of one or more continuous strips of conductive material, es- pecially copper, of constant width, their thickness being measurable in microns, with a high ratio between width and thickness, laid in lengths side by side with enough space between them for electrical insulation. Said strips are joined to two contacts that can be con- nected to a source of electricity, such as a main network. The strips may be laid in the form of a serpentine or spirally or in some other way according to preference. Said strips can be produced by electroplating or can con¬ sist of thin metal sheets cut into strips and laid sub- stantially parallel to allow space for insulation. Preferably the strips are laid on a panel of insulating or conducting material. In the latter case the panel is coated with an insulating layer. In a preferred type the panel is made of anodized alumi- nium. The panel may be flat or curved, rigid or flexible. It may be fitted with means for fixing it to the surface of surrounding structures such as walls and ceilings. The strips can be submergedin the structure of the building. Advantages are gained if the ratio between the overall diffusing surface of the strips of conductive material and the power of electric current can be calculated so as to maintain maximum temperature of the strips to make pos ¬ s i ble the use of supporting and coating materials which have low temperatures of combustion such as wood, cloth, paper, plastic material and others. The invention offers evident advantages. Heating commences almost immediately, uniform heat being given off by the surfaces created in the above manner. The cost of the heating body is much less than that of other kinds of heaters at present in use. There is no need for a heat diffuser, normally essential, as heat is produced, emitted and spread by a single body. The source of heat is easily created whether this is a sheet cut in strips, bands of metal or made by electro¬ pla ing. Heating bodies may even be placed in direct contact with the structure to be heated, therefore requiring no ther ¬ mal chain. In types that utilize transformed current with an increase in intensity, the lower voltage makes for greater safety. The use of supporting and coating materials such as wood, cloth, paper, plastic material offers exceptional advan¬ tages as regards costs, variety of uses and the practical and aesthetic effects obtainable. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its exe¬ cution illustrated by diagrammat ical ly drawn figures. Fig.1 Radiator consisting of a flat panel with a serpen¬ tinewise conductor, front vie . Fig.2 The same as Fig.1 seen from the side. Fig.3 The same radiator when finished with a decorative covering . Fig.4 Panel-type radiator with a spiral conductor, front view. Fig.5 The same as Fig. 4 seen from the side. The radiator 10 contains a panel 11 of aluminium with an anodized layer 12. The copper strip 13 of constant thick¬ ness and width, is laid on said layer. Thickness is measurable in microns. Said strip forms the serpentine 14 whose lengths are placed side by side and separated by a space 15 equivalent to that required for electrical insulation. The ends 16 and 17 of the serpentine are connected to the contacts 18 and 19 and through them to the main electri¬ city network by means of wiring 35 and a plug 36. On closing the circuit electric current in the serpentine is transformed into heat but avoiding the concentration that would produce very high emperatures. The large surface area spreads warmth throughout the environment without any necessity for a heat diffuser. Fig. 3 illustrates how the panel can be finished with a cloth covering 40. Figures ** and 5 illustrate a different version 20 com¬ prising the aluminium panel 21 and an anodized layer 22. The strip 23 forms the square spiral 24 with its several turns separated one from another by sufficient space 25 for electrical insulation. The ends 26 and 27 of the spiral are joined to contacts 28 and 29 for connection to the main source of electri¬ city through the wiring 30 and plug 31. The effects are similar to those obtained with the radia¬ tor shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. Apparatus ( 10,20) for transforming electric current into heat and for diffusing it characterized in that it is formed of one or more con- tinuous strips ( 13,23) of conductive material, of con¬ stant width, whose thickness is measureable in microns, with a high ratio between width and thickness, laid in lengths side by side sufficiently spaced one from another for ensuring electrical insulation ( 15,25) terminating in two contacts ( 18, 19) (28,29) that can be connected up to a source of electric current. 2. Apparatus ( 10,20) as in claim 1, characterized in that the strips ( 13,23) are of copper. 3. Apparatus ( 10,) as in claim 1, characterized in that the strips ( 13) are laid in the form of a serpentine ( 14). 4. Apparatus (20) as in claim 1, characterized in that the strips (23) are laid in the form of a spiral (24). 5. Apparatus ( 10,20) as in claim 1, characterized in that the strips ( 13,23) are obtained by electroplating. 6. Apparatus ( 10) as in claim 1, characterized in that the strips ( 13) are cut from thin metal sheets laid substantially parallel in such a way that spaces ( 15) for electrical insulation are created between one strip and another. 7. Apparatus ( 10,20) as in claim 1, characterized in that the strips ( 13,27) are supported by a panel ( 11). 8. Apparatus ( 10,20) as in claim 7, characterized in that the panel ( 11) is of metal coated with a layer ( 12) of insulating material. 9. Apparatus ( 10,20) as in claim 7, characterized in that the panel ( 1-1,21) is made of ano ¬ dized aluminium. 10. Apparatus as in claim 7, characterized in that the panel is made of insulating material . 11. Apparatus i 10i 20) as in claim 7, characterized in that the panel ( 11,21) is flat. 12. Apparatus as in claim 7 charac erized in that the panel { s curved. 13. Apparatus as in claim 7 characterized in that the panel ( 11,21) may be rigid or flexible as the case requires. 14. Apparatus ( 10,20) as in claim 7 characterized in that the panel ( 11,21) has means for fixing it to the surfaces of environmental structures such as walls and ceilings. 15. Apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that the strips ( 13,27) are submerged in the structure of the building. 16. Apparatus ( 10) as in claim 1, characterized in that the ratio between the total dif¬ fusing surface of the strips ( 13) of conductive material and the power of electric current is calculated ao as to maintain maximum temperature of the strips ( 13) at a level that will also permit the use of supporting and coating materials (40) combustion of which takes place at low temperatures such as wood, cloth paper, plastic material and others with consequent advantages as regards costs, variety of uses and in the practical and aesthetic effects obtainable.

Inventors: STABILE ALDO, STABILE, ALDO
Applicants: CADIF SRL, STABILE ALDO, CADIF S.R.L., STABILE, ALDO
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H05B3
IPC codes: F24D13, H05B3